Max Verstappen: Red Bull star ‘relaxed’ ahead of F1 opener | CNN

Australian GP: ‘I feel more relaxed with every year,’ says Max Verstappen

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Updated 10:33 AM EDT, Fri March 24, 2017
F1's young star Max Verstappen will be fighting for victories in 2017 as Red Bull look to challenge the dominance of the Mercedes team.
F1's young star Max Verstappen will be fighting for victories in 2017 as Red Bull look to challenge the dominance of the Mercedes team.
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Verstappen achieved star status by winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix in his very first race for Red Bull.
Verstappen achieved star status by winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix in his very first race for Red Bull.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The 18-year-old eclipsed Sebastian Vettel, who finished third in Spain last season, as the youngest-ever driver to win an F1 race.
The 18-year-old eclipsed Sebastian Vettel, who finished third in Spain last season, as the youngest-ever driver to win an F1 race.
Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
As the son of former driver Jos Verstappen, he is also the first Dutch driver to win an F1 race. Verstappen was born in Belgium to a Belgian Mom but races under the Netherlands flag.
As the son of former driver Jos Verstappen, he is also the first Dutch driver to win an F1 race. Verstappen was born in Belgium to a Belgian Mom but races under the Netherlands flag.
JOSEP LAGO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Asked by CNN in Barcelona whether his son was now the biggest sports star in the Netherlands, his Dad Jos, pictured here, replied: "If he wasn't, he is now."
Asked by CNN in Barcelona whether his son was now the biggest sports star in the Netherlands, his Dad Jos, pictured here, replied: "If he wasn't, he is now."
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
"The expectation around him and his impact in the Netherlands is sky high, and so in that sense he is the new Cruyff," says Dutch journalist Frank Woestenburg, seen here in Spain (third from left.)
"The expectation around him and his impact in the Netherlands is sky high, and so in that sense he is the new Cruyff," says Dutch journalist Frank Woestenburg, seen here in Spain (third from left.)
Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Verstappen made his F1 debut in 2015 at Toro Rosso alongside Carlos Sainz (left) but it was the Dutch driver who was sensationally promoted to Red Bull just 10 days before the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016.
Verstappen made his F1 debut in 2015 at Toro Rosso alongside Carlos Sainz (left) but it was the Dutch driver who was sensationally promoted to Red Bull just 10 days before the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016.
Peter Fox/Getty Images
There could be another Verstappen on the grid in the future. Sister Victoria, seen here with Dad Jos on a visit to watch Max in Barcelona 2015, is also a racer.
There could be another Verstappen on the grid in the future. Sister Victoria, seen here with Dad Jos on a visit to watch Max in Barcelona 2015, is also a racer.
Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen: Red Bull's teenage star

Story highlights

Verstappen: "I'm more relaxed every race"

Dutch teen is F1's youngest race winner

CNN  — 

He’s arguably Formula One’s hottest property and now Max Verstappen could have a car that will propel him to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Alongside Ferrari, Red Bull is expected to mount a sustained challenge to Mercedes this year – the German team dominated 2016, winning all but two of the 21 races.

Ferrari was fastest at winter testing in Barcelona but Red Bull wasn’t far behind – raising hopes that this season’s RB13 can evolve into a championship-winning car in 2017.

F1 circuit collage
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Ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen hinted on Thursday that evolution has already begun.

“(The car) will look a little bit different – a little bit,” Verstappen told F1.com.

“But not just in a single aspect – everywhere. That’s what you do if you want to drive the whole car concept forward. But it is still the best-looking car on the grid!”

Verstappen became the youngest driver to win an F1 race when he took the checkered flag in Spain last season, marking him out as a future world champion, while his phenomenal drive to secure third place at the Brazilian GP is regarded as one of the sport’s great performances.

So is he feeling the pressure as he and teammate Daniel Ricciardo seek to end Mercedes’ dominance?

“I feel more and more relaxed with every year and every race …” the teenager replied.

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Journey into the unknown

Sunday’s race will be a journey into the unknown for all the drivers as they finally find out how their new-look cars perform on the track in the heat of battle.

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spc the circuit daniel ricciardo training _00014406.jpg
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Regulation changes ordered by motorsport’s world governing body the FIA have made the cars wider, lower and faster – lap times are expected to improve by 3-5 seconds.

For Verstappen, victory doesn’t necessarily mean first place in Melbourne.

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“For me to be super happy – and not a single cloud in paradise – that would of course be a victory,” he says.

“I just have to follow the car: if the car is able to finish third, I am happy with third; the same goes for fifth.”